Feeler-motion for looms.



H. A. DAVIS.

FEELER MOTION FOHLOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED IEB. 23'. I9I7.

WQOQ Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

innen/far H. A. DAVIS. FEELE-R MGTION FR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.Z3. 1917. 1,290,108. Patented Jan-7,1919.

(35- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 7 45 4e 7 62 B QIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII inventar W if@ 7 l @W HARRY 1%.. DAVS, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSXGNOR T0 DRAPER GGRPORA- TION, 0F HOEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATON OF MANE.

FFELER-MOTION FOR LOOMS.

Application filed February 23. 1917.

To 77 whom if may concern:

Be it known that l, Hanny A. Davis, a citizen of the United States. residing at Hopedale, in the eountyof lilorcester and State of li'lassachusetts. have invented an improvement .in llleeler-ilfotions for Looms, ot' which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. like Characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to b'e hereinafter described relates to looms, and more particularly to thefeeler motions for effecting a change inl the condition ot the loom when the filling in the active shuttle becomes substantially though not fully exhausted.

`viarious forms of t'eeler mechanisms have heretofore been proposed, some of which depend for their action by measuring the thickness ot' the filling on the carrier or bobbin in the shuttle, others upon movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling becon'ies substantially exhausted. Feeler mechanisms to be practically ellicient must be sensitive, because on the one hand, when substantial ei:- haustion ot filling is reached and only sutlieient remains in the shuttle to make one, two, or more picks, the feeler must act to set in operation a train of mechanism to effect either replenishment of filling orloom stoppage. as the case may be. and on the other hand. it. must not so act when sutiicient filling remains in the shuttle for weaving' pur poses. otherwise, objectidnalle waste of filling" will result.

fin important feature of the present 1nvention. therefore, consists in a feeler niof 'by engagement `with the filling will prevent rotative or rocking' movement of the feeler after it is unlocked until. the filling is sub stantially exhausted.

it becomes necessary in many cases of Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 150,303.

feeler looms, to adj ustthe. feeler mechanism, and where the feeler operates through levers, rods and the like. to set in operation a train of mechanism, much dificulty is experienced in realjustingr the connections. Another important feature of the invention, therefore, consists of' a self-contained teeler mechanism and a flexible connection between it and the train of mechanism to be set inoperation, so that adjustment of the feeler mechanism does not require change in the connections between it and the train ot mechanism. This tiexible connection is established in the present instance of the invention by a wire properly incased to prevent buckling when pushed lengthwise and having its end supported to be pushed when the feeler on a detecting heat indicates substantial exhaustion of fillin'.

The invention embodies various other novel features. which. together with those mentioned, will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings showing one good, practical form thereof, and then defined by the claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a plan view of one side of a. loom showingf suflicient parts with the invention associated therewith to make clear vthe construction and operation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation indicating the parts shown by Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing` the feeler motion proper on an enlarged Scale;

Fig. l is a side elegation of the parts shown by Fi- .n3;

Figi 5 is a section on the line ont), Fig. 3-

1. i 7 lig. (i isv an enlarged detached plan View :of the end portion of the actuator showing one means for controllingthe ope ative relation between it and the operating member; and

Fig. is a side `view ot the parts shown in Fig. 6.

The loom frame l; the lneast. beam 2; the lay 3 having; the shuttle-box #l lor the reception ot' the shiittle, 5 in which .is supported the fillingr carrier or bobbin (3; and the shipper stand '7 may all be of usual or any preferred construction. rllhe front wall 8 of the shuttlebox and the. front wall of the shuttle 5 may each beI provided with an opening, asis common in feeler looms, for

Patented Jan. 7., 19H31.

the entrance of the feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle when the lay malres its detecting beat,

Looms of the filling replenishing type may effect replenishment of filling either by a change of shuttles or by changing lthe filling carrier or, bobbin in the. shuttle; and while the present invention is applicable to either type, the present instance of the invention is shown as embodied in a loom wherein upon substantial exhaustion of the filling in the active shuttle, the old filling carrier or bobbin in the shuttle is ejected and a filling carrier or bobbin with a fresh supply of filling is substituted therefor.

Liiounted in suitable brackets t) supported by he loom frai'ne, is the transvcr.' y or 51h-ange yshaft 10 having secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, the arm l17 Figs. and Pivotally mounted upon the arm 11 at l2 is the. arm 13 which extends rearwardly for emgagement by an operating member at times, as will more fully appear. The arm 13 may be hereinafter designated as the actuator for the purposes of identification, because7 by its frontward movement, it turns the transverse or change shaft 10 to thereby initiate filling replenishment.

The self-Contained feeler mechanism in the present invention is adjustably secured to the machine frame in appropriate position to support the feeler for entrance into the shuttle to feel for the filling as the lay makes its detecting beat. In the present form ot' the invention, the feeler stand 14 is adjustably mounted upon a bracket l5 by suitable securing means such, for instance,

as the screw bolt 16, Fig. 1"\vhieh passes throi'igh an elongated slot 17 formed in a flange projecting from the feeler Istand. The bracket l5 may be adjustably secured to the loom frame or the yshipper stand 7 by means of aboli', 1S, the co'istruction being sach that the self-contained feeler mechanism may be appropriately adjusted to en ter the (menings in the front wall of the shuttle-box and shuttle aslthc lay makes its detecting beat, Ivfounted for reciprocating movement in the feeler stand li is the feelcr slide 19, Fig. 3, having a stem 2() projectingA frontwardly therefrom and passing through a bearing 21 at the front of the feeler stand. The stem "20 at its front end portion is provided with a slop to limit the rearward movement of the feeler slide funder the impulse of the spring which, inv .the present instance of the invention, is

shown as of the coil type surrounding the stem 20 of the feeler slide. ferred-to may be variously formed, but in the present instance of the invention, is provided by a collar 23 preferably formed of a soft material such as leather, and held in place by a, nut threaded to the end of the stem 20,

The stop reweones Rising from the rear portion of the feeler slide 19 is the projection 25, Figs. 3 and 4,

through the lower portion of which extends the feeler or leelcr member zo, the front end portion of the feeler member passing into the hollow portion 2T of the stem Ztl. 1f desired. the feeler stem 2O may' have fixed thereto ay collar 28, Fig. 3, bi ween which and 'the front portion of the feeler stand 1-1 is located the spring 22 normally acting to hold the fecler slide in rcarward position. vl'tearward of the collar the feeler stand has` rising therefrom a lug or bearing member 2f), the lower portion of which has au opening therethrough serving to guidel the feeler-Qt in its longitudinal movement relative to the'fecler slide. The fee-ler 26 is normally under the influence of a'spring tending to hold the fecler in its rearward.position relative to the feelcrslide 19, and in the present instance of the invention, this'spring is of the coil type tt). preferably surrounding the feelcr 2li and having one end resting against and secured to the projection or flange 2f and the other end resting against and secured to the collar 31 which is itself adjustably mounted upon the feeler 2G, the construction being such that the spring 30 normally acts to hold the fceler 26' in rearward position.

ln one aspect of the present invention, it is contemplated that the feeler 26 shall be under the influence of means forturning the fecler about its longitudinal axis when on a detecting beat the filling has become substantially exhausted; and to this end the spring 30 may, in addition to its expansion qualities have a torsional action upon the feeler 2G tendingto rotate. it when it is freed to such rotative n'ioveinent. For this pur. pose, the ends 32 of the spring 30`may be engaged in appropriate recesses of the collar 31 and projection 29, substantially as indicated in Figs. 3 and el. v

The end of the feeler 26 is provided with a filling engaging end portion 33 which, by engagement. with the filling when a working supply is present in the shuttle, will prevent rotative movement of the feeler on a detecting beat. but which, when the filling has reached substantial exhaustion.. will no longer be able to restrain the .feeler 2t) 'from such rotative or rocking movement.

Secured to and extending from the feelei' 2o' is an arm 3l which, when the feeler is in itI rearward position as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 1, is adapted to rest upon the top portion of a projection 35 adjustably secured to the fecler stand by means such as the screws 36. The projection 35 is preferably formed as indicated in Figs. 3 and l, with an inclined portion 37 which, if the feeler 26 has been rotated or. rocked upon a detecting movement of the lay.y as it moves frontwardly9V will5 as the feeler member returns CII fl'or longitudin Q weones to rearward position, engage the arm 3i secured tothe eeler 2G and pei-force, cause the feeler E26 to be returned rotatably to its initial position. The arm 3l projecting from the feeler 2G extends outwardly from the feeler between the projection 2f) and the collar 28 carried by the feeler slide, the con struction being such that upon a detecting movement of the lay, when the filling-engaging end of the feeler is pushed front- Wardly, the spring 30 which may be somewhat lighter than the spring 22, will first be slightly compressed to relieve'the collar 3l from frictioual bearing yagainst the projection rising from the teeler slide, so that in case the fillingr has become substantially exhausted, the eeler will not be restrained from rotative movement by the frictional engagement oi" the collar 3l and projection 25. As the lay moves forward, the feelcr slide will yield frontwardly against the tension ot the 'pring and the feelerf will travel irontwardly with 'it to carry the arm '31 frontwardly beyond the top portion of Athe projection. or cam piece 35, the construction being such that the arm 3l no longer holds the teeler from rotative movement when the arm carried frontwardly beyond the projection hereinbeore noted, it is desirable that the eeler shall be sensitive in order that when the filling has become substantially exe hz usted, on a detecting beat, it will readily ascertain this fact and/be turned upon its longitudinal axis, but when made sulticiently sensitive for this purpose, it is liable to prematurely act during the weaving operation, and cause loss or waste of lilling by indicating the change before the filling is substantially exhausted. The present invention, therefore, conten'lplates means 'for locking the lie/eier from such rotative orroelting movement until, as the filling is progressively unwound 'from the carrier or` bobbin in the shuttle, its diameter has become sufficiei'itly decrtaiscd to permit the teeler memf bei lo enter farther into the shuttle on each detecting beat and then, while still a worki g supply ot lilling remains in the shuttle, unlocking the feeler so that thereafter it shall be under control ot' theiilling alone, and be prevented from rotative or rocking movement by engagei'nent with the iillingf nati substantial exhaustion.

Various means may suggest themselves for the accoinplishinent of the ends sta .1', but in the ,iresent instance ot' the invention, the hub portion C-rl ot' the arm 34 projectingr 'lroin the eelcr 25 is provided with a recess 'oove E? Pig. Ii, which is adapted to be i end l0 o'l a rod il supported,

al movement in the projections and f) carried by the teeler slide. The rod il preferably has its front end portion turned baci upon itself indicated engaged bj. h

other end against a collar liti adjustably se-.

cured to the locking rod ll, iiarward ot' t the projection :25. extending upwardly trom the feclcr slide lil the locking rod has a head or contact portion it adapted to be struck b v the Jront wall ot the shuttle or the iront wall ot' the shuttle-box when the teeler 2G enters the shuttle a predetermined amount. [from the construction described, it will be noted that when a full bobbin is in the shuttlc` the filling-engaging end oi the feeler 2G will enter the shuttleon each detecting beat and contact with the illing, and upon turthcr trontward movenunit ot the lay, the tecler member 26 will lirst be moved slightly forntward to relieve the pressure of the collar 31 against the projection 25 and then the lceler slide and feeler will move ,froutwardly in unison. When the tilling in the shuttle has reached a predetermined degree oi' depletion7 butbefore substantial exhaustion and the filling engaging end 33 of the teeler therefore enters farther into the shut-l tlc, the engaging end il of the loelt rod 4l will engage the t'ront wall oic the shuttle or shuttle-box or other convenient part carried by the lay, and movev the lock rod trontwardly, thereby unlocking the tecler to rotative movement. Should there still remain suiiicient iilling in the shuttle, however, to continue weaving, the feeler will be prevented Jfrom such rotative movement ou each detecting beat ot' die lay by engagement ot the end 33 'of the leeler with the filling unw til the latter becomes substantially exhausted. ll'hen the lilling reaches substantial exhaustion, however, it will no longer be able to hold the fecler from rotative movenient under the action ot' the spring 3() and the arm 51, either or both, and the feeler will turn clockwise` viewing Fig. 5, as the lay continues its trontward mo\.' ,n'ient, thereby eilecting initiation ot' replenishment as will now be described. v

h/liounted in the path o'll the arm 3i as it is moved trontward when the lilling has become substantially exhausted, is a plunger supported .For lfnigitudnal movement. in .a casing lo which may be appropriately secured to thc tcelcr stand. The plunger #lo has a shouldered portion li which limits movement oi' the plunger airwardly or to the lett, viewing liig. '-5. djustablv secured to the casing -lt a guide tube i8 through which passes the wire lil, the end ot which rests against the liront end portion oi' the plunger l5, Fig. 3, the construction being such `that should the arm 3l. engage the plunger l5 as the t'eeler moves trout` wardly after an indication ot' filling exhaustion. it will push the vvire -lf length'vvise. ln order that the wire it! may be prevented from buckling when thus moved lengthwise, it is surrounded bv a casing having an internal diameter substantiall)Y the same or onljY slightly greater than the diameter of' the vvire if). lia the present instance ot' the invention, the tasing is tornied of a wire eoil :3l but obviously. the casing may be otherwise contrived, the essentials in this respect being that it' serves to prevent buckling ol the wire Alt) when the latter is pushed lengthwise bv the finger 3l. ln order thatV the guide tube lo nia v be appropriatelv supported adjustablv in the casing lo, it may be held therein bv a suitable set screw or other convenient means 5;).

l'hidu'ise movement of the wire itl upon call for filling replenishment` is utilized inthe present invent-ioii to bring into operative relation the actuator and its'operating inemher. and to thisl end iii the present instance of the invention, the actuator 13 has pivotally mounted thereon ag at 53. Fig. Y, a dog 5l, the end portion 55 of which is normali)Y held out ol the path ot' the operating meniher 5G, Figs. l, and Q. b v a spring 5T. preterahl)` seated in a recess formed near one end of the actuator 13. and hearing against` a shoulder of the dog 5l, substantially as indicated in Fig. T. Rising from the dog 5l is a projection 5S which hears against a plimger 59 supported bv a casing tt) carried by the actuator 13. The plunger 59 is movable longitudinally in the casing (S0 to an extent limited b'v the Shoulder (il formed in the interior of the casing, and against the end (S2 otE the plunger. the end (SB ol the wire t9 bears. the construction being such that should the plunger 45, Fig. 3, be t'orced lonv gitudinally to the right' hv the arm 34 of the feeler, when substantial -exhaustion otl filling has been indi lated. the end (33 ot the wire 49 will move the plunger 59, Fig. 7., to the lett, thereby turning the dog 5l doniinardlv and carnviiigY its end into the, path of movement, ot' the operating member 5G. .which iii the present. instancey otl thel invention. may

be formed hv a part (S-l carried hv the cam' follower (i5. Fig. 2, so that on trontivard movement, ot' the operating member Bti. the actuator 155 will be ino-ved front\\'ardly, thereby turning the transverse or change shaft l() to initiale filling replenishment.

From the construction dt-scribeth it.v will be apparent that the tlexible connection between the teeler i'necliaiiisni and the train ot' mechanism for initiating filling replenishmentl enables the 'feeler mechanism to be adjusted to various positions without the neces sity for changing the construction, foi-111 or f dimensions ot other rigid parts. and the flexible character ot thi` lcommotion between the tti/ eier mechanism and the tram ot mechanism for initiating tilting replenishment enables the flexible connection to be carriedl around various obstructii'ig portions of the loom without interference therewith. fn order that the movement ot the dog 5l may be appropriatelv limited. it is provided with ay 'it projection (iti, Fig. i, which ma),Y move inimappropriate slot 6T, formed in the end of the actuator .13. i l

in order to properly guide the ire orflexible connection .i9 into cooperative relatioti-v 754' with thel plunger 59, Fig. i', the easing (SO is provided `with a guide tube (i8 which may be j similar m all respects to the guide tube 145 hereinbelore described, and inav be heldin adjusted position in the casing 60 by a auit- `8iL able set screw ($9, Figi 7.

Ordinarily. it may not be necessary to connect-the projection 29 vvith'the collar 28 ot' the teeler Slide between which parts the arm 3i is adapted to move, but in some cases 8.5

longitudinal axis when on a detectinos beat 9E the filling in thel shuttle is siibstantii'ily exhausted and restrained t'rom effecting such. movement ivlienthe feeler ils-in rear position. locking mams tor preventing rotative inoveineut of the 'feeler ,untill the fillingfl reaches a predetermined degree of extraitstion and then freeing it t5 rotative move ment, and means for initiating replenish?. nient ot' fillingr when the, feeler is rotated on a detecting beat. Q. In a feeler motion :tor looms, the com-. hination ot a feeler to feel .for the tilling inv the shuttle on a detecting; beat, means tending to rotate the teeler as the lay beats np.v

and a lock to prevent thel action otsaid. li

means until the filling is exhausted toa pref4 determined degree and then freeing ythe teeler to rotative movement, said t'eeler be, ing prevented trom rotative movement a-ttery it. is unlocked bv engagement with the lill-*1I ing,r until the filling is substantially exhaustf.l

ed. and means actuated by the feeler" when the tilting is substantially exhausted to ini-v. tinte replenishment.

' 3. A feeler motion for looms, comprising,

in combination, a teeler mounted for' rotaA tive movement. about its longitudinal anisa'nd prevented from siieh rotative movement byl engagement of the feeler with the filling until the filling is substantially exhausted, 1 2` a lock to prevent rotative movement. ot' the feeler until they filling reaches a predeteny mined degree of exhaustion prior to substantial exhaustion and to then free thev feeler that its rotative. nioven'icnt maj be: 13

isof

Controlled by engagement with the filline', and means forchanging the operative condition of the loom' avhen rotative movement of the feeler is permitted by substantial exhaustion of filling on a detecting beat.

al. feeler motion for looms, comprising, in combination, a`f`eeler, means for rotating the f'eeler about its longitudinal axis, a lock for prt-Weuting rotative movement of the feeler until the filling has been exhausted to' a predetermined extent, an end portion carried by the feeler to prevent rotative movement of the feeler by engagement with the filling after it is unlocked until substantial exhaustion of the filling, and means for changing the operative condition of the loom .when substantial exhaustion ot' filling permits rotative movement ofthe feeler on a detecting beat.

in a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler, means for rotating the f'eeier, a lock to prevent rotative movement of 'the feelcr until the latter enters the shuttie, to a ]')redetermined extent and then freeing the feeler to rotative movement, an end portion on the feeler to prevent rotative movement of the feeler by engagement with the. filling after the feeler is unlocked until 'substantial exhaustion of filling, and means for initiating filling replenishn'ient when lupon,substantial exhaustion of filling the feeler is rotated on a detecting beat.

G. in a feeler motion for looms, the con,- bi'nation of a f'eeler to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling, means for rotating the feeler, a lock to prevent rotation of the wier and rendered ineffective on a detecting beat when the feeler enters the shuttle to a predetermined extent, a filling engaging end on the feeler to prevent rotative movement of the feelcr by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaust-ion of filling, and means actuated by the feeler when rotated to initiate filling replenishment..

- 7. in a feeler motion for looms, the combination of aA feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle and be moved frontward as the lay beats up, means normally acting to rotateor rock the axis 'it moved frontward, means for locking the feeler from rotative or rocking movement until the feeler enters the .shuttle to alpredetermined extent and then freeing 'the feeler to such rotative or irocking movement. a roughened or toothed end carried by the feeler to prevent rotative or rocking movement of' the feeler by engagement with the. fillingr on a detecting beat after the. feeler is unlocked until the filling is substantially exhausted, and means for pre,- venting rotative or rocking n'iovomenf of the feeler whenv it. is unlocked and in rearward position.

8. in a feeler motion for looms; the com f'eeler about its longitudinalbination of a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle. and be moved frontward as the lay beats jap, means tending to rotate the feeler when moved trontward, means for locking the feeler from rotative movement adapted to be struck as the lay moves frontward to unlock the f'eeler to rotative movement when the filling is exhausted a predetermined extent, a roughened portion earried by the feeler to prevent rotative movement of the feeler by engagement with the filling until Substantial exhaustion thereof, and means for preventing rotative movement'of the feeler when it is unlocked and in rearward position.

9. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler, means tending to rotate the feeler on a detecting beat., a lock to prevent rotative movement of the veeler until the latter enters the shuttle to a predetermined extent and then freeing the feeler to rotative movement, a push member positioned for impingement andmovement longitudinally by the feeler when the feeler is rotated on a detecting beat, and means actuated by the push member for initiating replenishment of filling.

10. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler to feel for the lling in the shuttle and be given an indicating movement when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, means for locking the feeler-from substantial exhaustion indicating` movement and freeing it to such movement when the filling has become exhausted to a predetermined amount, mechanism .for initiating filling replenishment, a flexible member comprising an incased wire between the fceler and said mechanism adapted to be pushed by the feeler when the latter indicates substantial exhaustion of filling for effecting operation of said mechanism, -and means for automatilally resetting the eeler to initial locked position. i

11. A feeler motion for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler, means for rotating the 'fecler about its longitudinal axis, a lock for preventing rotative movement of' the feeler until the filling has been exhausted to a predetermined extent, an end portion carried' by the feeler to prevent rotative movement ot the feeler by engagement with the .filling after it is unlocked until substantial exhaustion of the filling, and means including a flexible ber positioned to be engaged and pushed lengthwise by the feeler for changing the operative condition of the loomA when subbination ofl a feeler, means tending to rotate the feeler on a detecting beat, a lock to pre,-

\'eiit""i"o'ntive movement of the feelei until a predetermined amount of filling remains in the shuttle, :i flexible push membei` havingn part normally out of the path of movement of the feelei and adapted to be pushed by the feelei' when moved from normul iomtive position on the occurrence of substantial exhaustion of illing, and means operated by J[he flexible push membei` when moved by the feelei to initiate iilling repleniehmenfi.

13. A feelei motion for looms, comprising` in combinution, u feelei mounted for rotative movement, n lock mounted for longitudinal movement and nctingto preneem-loe Vent rotative moyement of the feeler until the feelei enters the shuttle a predeteimined amount7 e. flexible push member having ai, part normally out of the path of feeler movement, when held from rotation by the lock nnd'edupted to be moved longitudinally by the feelei' when it indicates Substantial exhaustion of lling, means controlled by the flexible push member for initiating leplenishment of filling, nnlmeans for 1teturning the feelei' rotatably to locked posi- 'tion und automatically looking it.

In testimony whereof have signed my nume to his specification.

HARRY A. DAVIS. 

